Maria Lúcia Resende Disas Faria (photo) was born in the town of Divisa (now Dores do Rio Preto) and lives in Vila Velha, Espírito Santo. She´s been a spiritist for 40 years and is in her second term as president of the local federation. In this interview, she talks about the Federation´s main activities. O Consolador: How strong and active is the spiritist movement in Espírito Santo, how many institutions are members of the state´s federation? We´re growing fast, following the steps recommended by the Brazilian Spiritist

Federation (FEB). In the state of Espírito Santo, 94 spiritist groups in forty- four cities and towns are affiliated to the Federation and 18 others have applied to join us. Our target is to have one spiritist centre in each town or city of the state. In the capital, Vitória, 54 groups are affiliated and 15 have applied to join.

O Consolador: Let us know a bit more about the state of Espírito Santo. 

Espírito Santo is the smallest state in area in Brazil´s southeastern region, having Rio de Janeiro on its southern border and Bahia on the north. It´s certainly one of the most welcoming states in the region. Its people are good-hearted and caring. The state has 78 towns and cities and a population of 3.4 million. The economy is based on agriculture, livestock and farming in general, producing coffee, bananas, maize and beef. We also have mining and industrial activities, in food processing and chemical companies. And Espírito Santo is one of the leading oil and gas producers in Brazil. The state has some of the best port infrastructures in the country.  

O Consolador: What are the main challenges you face ahead of the state´s Spiritist Federation? 

Being in charge of Espírito Santo´s Spiritist Federation is both a challenge, an honour and a source of joy. It´s a job that bears great responsibility. I must say that the job is immensely gratifying and carried out with much love and dedication, not only by me but by all the board of directors. The whole team has shown great dedication and unity. The main challenges concern our limitations at a personal level. After all, we´re still spirits going through a process of learning and development. The main achievement I could point out would be making the Federation more present and active in all spiritist groups across the state. 

O Consolador: What are the main events you organise? 

We organise several events throughout the year. We have the annual Meeting of Spiritst Workers, which is done in the state´s different regions; the Meeting of Presidents of Spiritist Groups and a number of other annual events. Every two years, we host the Spiritist Congress of Espírito Santo. And we also help individual spiritist centres organise their own events. 

O Consolador: What is your assessment of the integration at a national level of the different Federations from all Brazilian states? 

I feel there´s growing integration among the spiritist organisations across the country, even considering the fact that we live in such a big country. The electronic media allow more speed in our contacts; they have played an important part in that process in recent years. I´ve noticed that that the Spiritist Movement has even gone beyond the Brazilian borders, taking the experience of so many years to our brothers and sisters in other countries. This is, after all, the role Brazil – the Homeland of the Gospel – is destined to play. 

O Consolador: What are in your view the main challenges and difficulties faced by the Spiritist Movement in our days? 

As I said before, the main difficulties concern our personal limitations. We´re doing our best, with the support of the Spiritual World to help us along the most difficult stages of our journey. But one must not forget that the Spiritist Movement is the work of men and women who are still learning and developing, spiritually speaking. We all have our own personal challenges, at different levels – emotionally, spiritually, intellectually. But we´re certainly doing our best to move ahead following the ideals of the mentor of the Brazilian nation, Ismael – God, Christ and charity.

O Consolador: What achievements or moments of joy would you like to highlight? 

My biggest joy is that of all Spiritist workers – feeling that you´ve been able to help your brother or your sister along the way. It´s the joy of delivering the message of hope, unique to the Spiritist Doctrine, to the restless hearts of those fearing the future. It´s the joy of seeing that the understanding of God and his laws has reached the minds of so many, providing an explanation for the contrasts and apparent injustices of our lives. As for our main goal, we´ll have reached it when we can say we´ve become true spiritists. 

O Consolador: As Spiritists – from workers in a group to the president of institutions – what is the best way to follow in order to take the essence of the Spiritist message to others, without deviations or misunderstandings? 

I would quote two passages of The Gospel According to Spiritism, which are often quoted among Spiritists. The first one is by the honourable codifier of the Doctrine, Allan Kardec: “We can recognise the real spiritist by its moral transformation, by the efforts he or she exerts in order to rein their bad inclinations.” The second sentence is by the Spirit of Truth: “Spiritists! Love one another, that is the first command; and learn, that is the second!” Considering all that, we must know that we will be inevitably led towards the path to our own self-improvement, even in the current world, facing so many challenges. But we must love fraternally and study, learn, aware that we are immortal beings and that our target and destiny is to reach perfection one day.  Here you are, that´s the best way forward for all spiritist workers. 

O Consolador: The Brazilian Spiritist Federation and the National Federative Council (CFN) have been making all efforts at their reach to spread the message of the Doctrine in a proper way. We also have watched the efforts by the Interanational Spiritist Council (CEI) to translate the books of Kardec and others, the international travels of the remarkable mediums Divaldo Franco and Raul Teixeira, the effort of so many idealist spiritists. Of all that effort, what strikes you the most? 

So many people have carried out such a remarkable effort to publicise the Doctrine codified by Allan Kardec, a job carried out by so many incarnated spirits and Spiritual Benefactors who only deserve our respect and admiration. But as we see the spiritist message reach new publics in new countires, we realise that the hearts of minds across the world seemed to be in a latent state, waiting only for a gentle gust to finally lift the veil. Many of our spiritist brothers and sisters haven´t shied away from personal sacrifices in order to take this revitalising Christian message to new countries. 

O Consolador: What would you like to say about the centenary of birth of the great spiritist medium, Chico Xavier? 

Our dear Chico Xavier is the best example that we can live according to the Gospel in today’s world, even though many say that’s an impossibility. I think he deserved all the homage paid by the Spiritist Movement in the year of his centenary. He lived a live of sacrifice and dedication and was the subject of all sorts of misunderstandings and accusations. We shouldn’t worship or idolise Chico Xavier, but we must say that he was an example of a true spiritist. I’ve only met him once, but that single encounter brought me the deepest emotions and so much enthusiasm to carry out my work in Spiritism. 

O Consolador: Could you share with us your final toughts? 

I must thank all Spiritist workers in the state of Espírito Santo who trusted me and our team to be in charge of the Federation, which will celebrate its 90^th anniversary of foundation next year. I´m aware of the responsibility of directing the paths of the Spiritist Movement in Espírito Santo, bearing in mind that we were preceded by so many valuable workers. As a final message I´d like to remind everyone of the invitation made by one of our Spiritual Mentors, Dr Bezerra de Menezes, through the medium, Divaldo Franco. The message, published on Reformador in May 2008, was titled Sem Adiamentos, or No Delays:

“[…] We´re going through the great difficult period of the transition on Earth […] Our internal battles are not easy, but Jesus never promised an easy path. […] Now we´re facing the great moment when decisions will be made. There is no room for faltering, for postponing and delaying the realisation of the ideal. […] Jesus, my dear, is in charge of the Earth´s vessel and will guide it through to the safe port it is destined to reach. Let us fight for the honour of being part of his crew, as humble workers. But most of all, let us be faithful to the command of His sweet voice.” 
 

Author´s note: You can reach the Spiritist Federation of Espírito Santo on website www.feees.org.br or via email, feees@feees.org.br.